Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday dismissed the reports of a shortage of berths for passengers opting for non-AC coaches. Vaishnaw said that instead, there has been a nearly three-fold surge in the number of special train trips this festive season as compared to last year.
The Indian Railways, during the festive season from October 1 to December 31, has operated 6,754 additional train trips to accommodate the increase in passenger demand, a significant rise from the 2,614 trips during the same period last year, the minister said. He further added that as of now, 2,423 trips have been successfully completed, and the remaining trips are scheduled to be conducted in the upcoming days.
Indian Railways’ hands-on approach
Vaishnaw, during a media interaction, shared that each year, the Railway engages in meticulous planning to facilitate arrangements for passengers during Diwali and Chhath. “We monitor the reservation and waiting list trends three months before the beginning of the festive season and take a call on making arrangements for the additional train trips,” Vaishnaw said.
Passenger Planning and Projection
The Railways incorporate last year’s passenger figures in the planning process to anticipate and accommodate the festive season rush effectively. Taking various factors into consideration, the railways anticipate a significant surge in passenger traffic during the festive season. And then, plans are formulated to manage the expected rush.
According to Railway Minister Vaishnaw, approximately 36 lakh people have traveled since the commencement of the festive season, marking a notable doubling of last year’s figures.
Railway sources attribute the increased festive season travel to an improved economic situation, influencing more people to undertake railway journeys compared to the previous year.
Has there been a reduction in Sleeper Coaches?
The Railway Minister has refuted reports claiming a reduction in sleeper coaches, asserting that there is a standard composition of coaches in trains since the introduction of new LHB coaches.
Elaborating on the standard practice, Vaishnaw detailed the typical coach composition in a train, emphasizing that there has been no change. The composition includes sleeper coaches, general coaches, AC classes, pantry, and other necessary components.
Clarification on Non-AC Coach Availability
In response to concerns about a shortage of non-AC coaches, the Railways released a statement asserting that a substantial majority of passengers between April and October 2023 traveled in general and sleeper classes, debunking claims of a significant reduction in non-AC coach availability.
The Indian Railways reported a noteworthy increase in the number of general and sleeper class passengers between April and October this year compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
(With PTI Inputs)